Second Opinion Podcasts

The Issue

With a growing, aging population, the demand for physicians has intensified, and communities around the country are already experiencing doctor shortages. A 2015 study conducted for the AAMC by IHS Inc., predicts that by the year 2025 the United States will face a shortage of between 46,000-90,000 physicians. There will be shortages in both primary and specialty care, and specialty shortages will be particularly large.

These shortages pose a real risk to patients. Because it takes between five and 10 years to train a doctor, projected shortages in 2025 need to be addressed now so that patients will have access to the care they need.

The Solution

Fixing the doctor shortage requires a multi-pronged approach. This includes innovations such as team-based care and better use of technology to make care more effective and efficient. AAMC-member medical schools and teaching hospitals have been leading the movement to work better in teams – with other health professionals – nurses, dentists, pharmacists and public health professionals. These institutions also are developing the new knowledge of what works in health care – not only reading the textbooks – but writing the textbooks to advance the delivery of care.

Even with all of these changes, the data clearly show that reforms alone will not eliminate the doctor shortage.

We also need additional federal support to train at least 3,000 more doctors a year by lifting the cap on federally funded residency training positions. Lawmakers have responded with proposals in the House and Senate to increase the number of residency positions. But they mustact now in order to ensure that there are enough physicians for our growing and aging population.

Proposed cuts to federal support for major teaching hospitals would result in a loss of nearly 73,000 full-time jobs and $654 million in local and state revenue, according to a study commissioned by the AAMC.

The Association of American Medical Colleges is a not-for-profit association representing all 141 accredited U.S. and 17 accredited Canadian medical schools, nearly 400 major teaching hospitals and health systems, including 51 Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers, and nearly 90 academic and scientific societies.

Our Mission

The AAMC serves and leads the academic medicine community to improve the health of all.